NEWS- Myanmar Implements Greening P

NOTE: There would be less desert and more than 51% forest if they had
not made deals with Thai companies to cut and sell hardwoods cheaply.
The non-government SPDC, only wants a good image not a good, green and
clean country. The only green the care about is money.
Myanmar Implements Greening Projects in Arid Zone
Xinhua
20-MAY-98
YANGON (May 20) XINHUA - The
Myanmar State Forestry Department
is implementing greening projects in
the arid zone in the central part of the
country after tree plantations were
successfully established in the zone
during the last three fiscal years.
The projects include the
establishment of nurseries,
conservation of remaining natural
forest from further deterioration,
replacement of fuel wood, restoration
of watershed areas and
establishment of water resources,
The New Light of Myanmar reported
Wednesday.
According to the paper, Myanmar
planted more than 16 million trees in
areas of over 21,000 hectares
between fiscal 1994-95 and 1996-97,
of which 90 percent were successful.
The project covered 57 townships
and 15 mountain ranges in three
divisions.
The three divisions of Mandalay,
Sagaing and Magway constitute the
arid zone of the country where
residents experienced an acute
shortage of water even for human
consumption.
The local authorities are also
advocating that people use wood
substitute fuel such as briquettes and
fuel-efficient stoves, the paper said.
On the other hand, Myanmar has
also been building irrigation facilities
in the arid zone for agriculture and
human consumption, it said.
Officials said the greening projects
are being extended to 13 districts
from nine in the arid regions.
Myanmar's forest covers about 51
percent of the total land area.